Biography
Dr. Charlène Roussel completed her doctoral studies in cotutelle between the Université Clermont-Auvergne, France and the Ghent University, Belgium. She specialized in applied microbiology, food host-pathogen interactions and ex vivo simulation of the human digestive environment. Her doctoral research focused on a probiotic strategy to combat enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infections, responsible for traveler's diarrhea, as well as on the determination of the associated mechanisms of action. Charlène then completed a 5-year postdoctoral studies at the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF) at Université Laval in Canada where she led numerous research projects in gut microbial ecology and multi-omics data analysis as part of the Canada Excellence Research Chair on the microbiome-endocannabinoidome axis in metabolic health directed by Professor Vincenzo Di Marzo; and the Phenobio+ Chair on the prebiotic effect of fruit and vegetable polyphenols directed by Professor Yves Desjardins.
Charlène is excited to join as a faculty member of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and is enthusiastic to contribute to the undergraduate Doctor of Pharmacy program.
Expertise
- Microbiome (intestinal, urinary)
- Ex vivo biological systems
- Multi-omics analysis
- Host-pathogen interactions
- Microbe-prebiotic/probiotic interactions
Research Projects
Dr. Charlène Roussel's research interests focus on women's health issues, with a particular emphasis on the microbiome and its individual characteristics. So far, studies on urinary tract infections (UTIs) have mainly focused on the urinary tract, where these pathogens act. However, these pathogenic bacteria also originate in the human colon. The aim is therefore to better understand the behavior of uropathogenic bacteria by tracing their journey from the colon via the vaginal niche to infection sites in the urinary tract. To achieve this, ex vivo tools will be used to recreate these crucial microbial ecosystems.
Publications
- Roussel C, Sola M, Lessard-Lord J, et al. Human gut microbiota and their production of endocannabinoid-like mediators are directly affected by a dietary oil. Gut Microbes. 2024;16(1):2335879. doi:10.1080/19490976.2024.2335879
- Lessard-Lord J, Roussel C, Lupien-Meilleur J, et al. Short term supplementation with cranberry extract modulates gut microbiota in human and displays a bifidogenic effect. NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2024;10(1):18. doi:10.1038/s41522-024-00493-w
- Lessard-Lord J, Lupien-Meilleur J, Roussel C, et al. Mathematical modeling of fluid dynamics in in vitro gut fermentation systems: A new tool to improve the interpretation of microbial metabolism. FASEB J. 2024;38(2):e23398. doi:10.1096/fj.202301739RR
- Roussel C, Chabaud S, Lessard-Lord J, et al. UPEC Colonic-Virulence and urovirulence are blunted by Proanthocyanidins-Rich cranberry extract microbial metabolites in a gut model and a 3D Tissue-Engineered urothelium. Microbiology Spectrum. 2022;10(5). doi:10.1128/spectrum.02432-21
- Fournier E, Roussel C, Dominicis A, et al. In vitro models of gut digestion across childhood: current developments, challenges and future trends. Biotechnol Adv. 2022;54:107796. doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107796
- Roussel C, Anunciação Braga Guebara S, Plante PL, Desjardins Y, Di Marzo V, Silvestri C. Short-term supplementation with ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids modulates primarily mucolytic species from the gut luminal mucin niche in a human fermentation system. Gut Microbes. 2022;14(1):2120344. doi:10.1080/19490976.2022.2120344
- Roussel C, De Paepe K, Galia W, et al. Multi-targeted properties of the probiotic saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) H10407 pathogenesis across human gut models. Gut Microbes. 2021;13(1):1953246. doi:10.1080/19490976.2021.1953246
- Roussel C, Galia W, Leriche F, et al. Comparison of conventional plating, PMA-qPCR, and flow cytometry for the determination of viable enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli along a gastrointestinal in vitro model. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2018;102(22):9793-9802. doi:10.1007/s00253-018-9380-z
- Roussel C, Sivignon A, de Vallée A, et al. Anti-infectious properties of the probiotic Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3856 on enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strain H10407. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2018;102(14):6175-6189. doi:10.1007/s00253-018-9053-y
- Roussel C, Cordonnier C, Galia W, et al. Increased EHEC survival and virulence gene expression indicate an enhanced pathogenicity upon simulated pediatric gastrointestinal conditions. Pediatr Res. 2016;80(5):734-743. doi:10.1038/pr.2016.144
Awards and Nominations
- IMPACTT Mentoring Grant: Advancing Microbiome Research (2023-2024), Mentor : Pr. Marie-Claire Arrieta, University of Calgary, Canada
- Award for the best poster presentation in the intestinal microbiota section (2022), International Congress on Polyphenol and Health (ICPH), London, United Kingdom
- Young Researcher Award ADER Auvergne-Polytech (2020), Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Travel grant for the joint European doctoral program (2016-2019), Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Valedictorian Award for MSc Nutrition, Health and Food (2015), Fondation de l'Université Clermont-Auvergne, France